Top



Dec. 25, 1934. BUESCHEL 1,985,716

TOP

Fil ed Jan. 25, 1933 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 I "I" all" gnuamm,

l lll I INVENTOR j rz'iz Eaesc/zel,

ATT'O NEY F. BUESCHEL Dec. 25, 1934.

2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Jan. 25, 1933 Patented Dec. 25, 1934 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE This invention relates, generally, to tops; and theinvention has reference, more particularly, to, novel improvements in that type of top adapted to be spun by grasping a handle attached to 5 the" top of a helical or spiral rod and pushing suchhandle downwardly, causing the helical or spiral rod to move downwardly into the top and effecting the spinning thereofythe said tops being sometimes called spiral or push handle tops.

Tops of this type as heretofore constructed, generally comprise a shell which is rather wide incomparison to its height, the said shell being somewhat of turnip or ellipsoidal shape, which shape causes the top to be relatively weak and susceptible to being knocked out of shape or ,dented in use. I

t The principal objectof the present invention is to provide a novel top of the push handle or spiral type, which is of strong and rugged construction and will assumevarious and changing colors during the spinning thereof, thereby delighting the eye of the-user.

Another object of the present invention lies in the provision of a novel top of the push handle or spiral type which is of spherical shape, whererod downwardly thereinto, and an inner shell contained within said outer shell and resting at its bottom uponthe inner surface of said outer shell, said inner shell being independently turnable with respect to said outer shell and adapted in use to, gradually'assume the speed of rotation ,of the outer shell owing to the frictional torque exerted upon the inner shell at the points of support of this shell upon the outer shell. I

Other objects of, this invention, not at this time more particularlyenumerated, will be clearly understood from the following detailed description of thesame. v

The invention is clearly illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view illustrating the mannerof operating the novel top ofythepresent invention. 1 7

'Fig. 2 is a view in' elevation of the top.

movement of the handle.

Fig. 3 is an enlarged, partsectional view taken substantially alongline- 3--3 of Fig. 2, looking in the direction of the arrows. 1

Fig. ,4 is a fragmentary view of a portion of the structure shown in Fig. 3, and. illustrates the disengagement of the clutch during the upward Fig. 5 is anenlarged fragmentary sectional view taken along line 5- -5of Fig. 2, looking-inthe direction'of the arrows.

Fig. 6 is an enlarged fragmentary view taken along line 66 of Fig; 2, looking in the direction of the arrows.

Fig. 7 is a view in elevation with parts broken away of a top or fixed color.

Fig. 8 is a diagrammatic view illustrating certain color combinations of thetop shown in Fig. 2; and f Fig. 9 is' a view similar toFig. 8 but illustrates the color combinations ofthe inner shell of the top. v

Similar characters of reference are employed in all of the above described views to indicate corresponding parts.

Referring nowto Figs. 1 to 6 of the drawings, the reference numeral 1 designates the novel top of the present invention as awhole. Top 1 comprises an outer shell consisting of upper and lower, substantially, semispherical, hollow'memjbers or shell halves 2 and 3; respectively. The lower outer shell member 3 is illustrated as provided at its upper peripheral edge portion with a slightly outwardly ofiset flange 4 that overlaps the peripheral edge portion of the upper outer shell member 2 and is secured to this upper shell member as by solderingor welding, whereby the upper and lower outer shell members are secured into a unitary whole. It will be obvious that instead of using a lap joint for connecting the upper and lower outer shell members or halves 2 and 3, these two halves may be connected together by means of a butt joint.

The upper and, lower outer shell members 2 and 3 are each illustrated as provided with three segmental apertures 'or openings 5 therein, which apertures extend for the greater part of the height of these shell members. Each of the openings 5 extends transversely approximately sixty degrees about the vertical axis of the outer shell, thereby formingthree shell connecting portions 6 in b oth the upper and lower outer shell members, which connecting portions extend between consecutive apertures 5. Each of the shell connecting portions 6 is illustrated as extending approximately 60 about the axis of the outer with respect to the connecting portions 6 of the lower shell half. The upper and lower outer shell halves 2 and 3 are illustrated as providednea'r their-adjoin' ing peripheral edges witha; 'plurality'of circumferentially disposed apertures 7 which communicate with the interior ofthi: outer shell. The

lower central portion of the lower outershell half 3 is also provided with a plurality of an-" nularly disposed, mutually spaced. apertures 8 which'also communicate with the interior of the outer shell. The lower central portion of the lower outer shell half. 3 is formed with a down- .wardly depressed pivotal boss 9- on which the top; spins in use.

The top central portion of: the upper outer shell half 21s upwardly deformed at 11 toprovide a clutch housing tor a clutch disc-12 that has depending clutch fingers l 3for engaging. in apertures l l-provided in a circular clutch'plat'e 15 that isgsecured atits perlpheryfto the'inner surface of the upper outer shell half 2.. The central portion of the clutch disc l2-is provided with a substantially rectangular opening. 16." for slidably receiving a helically or spirally twisted vertical rod- 17. Helical-rod lfl extends upwardly'from clutch disc 12 and through a circular aperture 1-8 providedin thetopof clutchhousing- 1-1. The

upper end portionof helical. rod-l7 has a handle 19 secured thereto.

Below theclutch disc 12, the helical. rod 17 projects downwardly into a vertical guide tube 20, which has its upper end extending into and secured within a central circularv apertureprovided in: the clutchplate 15.. Guide tube 20 ex- .tends downwardly centrally. through the top- 1 and has its lower end. portion frictionally or .otherwise held within the hollowinterior of. the depending pivotal boss 9 of. the outer" shell half 3.

'When the handle 13 is raised, the clutch disc 12 is also raised V somewhatwithin the clutch housing 11 until its clutch fingers l3 disengage I wardly within the clutch housing 11 so that its 60 clutch fingers 13- engage in aperturesv 14 of the clutch plate 15, and thereafter continued downward movement of the handle 19 causes the clutch disc l2'to eflect rotation of the clutch plate 15 and hence causes rotation of the'outer shell 2, 3 of the top, the vrtical guide tube 20 also rotating with the outer shell. The lowerend portion of the helical rod 17 is provided with an outstruck boss 2l fwhich, by engaging the clutch disc 12, prevents the complete withdrawal of the helicalrod 17 from within" the top in' use.

Contained within the outer shell 2, 3 is an inner substantially spherical shell consisting of upper; and lower hollow substantially semispherical shell ,members or halves 22 and 23.

The upper and lower shell members 22 and 23 shell member and the clutch plate 15.

outer shell.

are illustrated as spaced somewhat, thereby providing an annular opening 24'extending between these two shell members. Shell members 22 and 23 are illustrated as interconnected across the annular opening 24 by means of two vertical connecting struts 25, which serve to stiffen the inner shell and retainthe upper and lower shell members 22 and 23 in their proper respective positions. .Ihe upper portion of the upper inner shell member 22 is illustrated as flattened at 26 so as to provide clearance between the top of this A vertical tube 27 extends centrally within the inner shellfand has its upper end portion projecting through and secured within a circular aperture provided in the flattened portion 26 of the upper inner shell men1ber'22. Likewise, the lower end portion. of the vertical tube 27 extends through and is secured within a circular aperture provided in the lower central portion of the lower inner shell member 23. The vertical tube 27 is turnably mounted upon the vertical tube 20, whereby the inner shell is permitted to rotate independently of the rotation of the outer shell and tube 20.

A washer 28 surrounds the tube 20 and is positioned intermediate the lower portion of the inner shell and the lower inner surface of the 7 Thus, the inner shell consisting of shell members 22 and 23, rigidly interconnected by struts 25 and. tube 27, rests upon the washer 23, which washer serves to provide clearancebetween the outer surface of the inner shell and the inner surface of the outer shell so that these shells will not rub against one another at any point during the operation of the top, the only connection between the inner and outer shells being that provided by the relatively slight frictional bearing engagement provided by washer 28 positioned between the two shells and that provided by the slight frictional bearing engagement existing between tubes. 20' and 27.

A transversely extending circular plate 29 is contained within the lower inner shell member 23 and has its peripheral edge portion secured to the inner surface of this lower inner shell member. The transverse plate 29 is provided with elongated apertures or slots 30 which are covered by reeds 32, that have one of their ends secured, as by rivets 33, (see Fig. 6) to the plate 29. The inner lower shell member 23 is provided with a plurality of annularly disposed apertures 34, which apertures overlie the apertures 8 of the outer shell so that air may pass through apertures 8 and apertures 34 and up through slots 30 during the operation of the top, thereby effecting the emission of musical notes from the reeds 32. In order to enhance the flow of air upwardly through aperturesS, 34 and 30, the inner shell 22, 23 has av vane 35 contained therewithin, which vane may be of cardboard or other suitable material. Vane 35 extends vertically within the inner shell and is transversely slitted as at 36 and 36 for a portion of itswidth so that this vane may be inserted over the end of the tube 27 before this tube has been assembled with the upper and lower inner shell halves 22, 23. In assembling the vane 35 upon the tube 27, the central portion of the vane, lying between slits 36 and 36, will grip one side of the tube 27, whereas those portions of the vane above and below the central portion of the vane will grip the other side of the tube so that the vane 35 will be ,frictionally-retained in place upon the tube 27.

In use, to spin the novel top of the present the outer shell 2,f3, therebycausingthis outer when the outer shell is being accelerated b I th handlel9.

*Theinnershell has theouter surface of its upper and lowershell members on halves 22, 2 3

painted segments are substantially of the same area as the segmental apertures'fi in the outer shell; Thus, the-upper inner-shell half 22 has its outer surface painted in six segments, three color, for example, and thethree remaining segments 38 being white in color. Also, the lower insix equal segments,-three 'alternate segments being white in-color.

invention, it is merely necessary tovertically i reciprocate the handle' 19 and 'each time this handle is "pushed downwardly, the helical-rod 17,

acting through clutch 12, 15, will act to drive shell to rotateat high speed. The inner shell 22, 23 beingindependentlyrotatable with respect "to the outer shell 2, 3, will, owingto its inertia, tend to'lag behind the outer shell, although this "inner shellwill rotate in" the same direction as tional engagement of the washer 28' upon the "inner and outenshells; thej'saidjwasher in rotating with the outer shell tends to similarly rotate the innershellI- The inertia'of the inner shell, however, causes ithis inne'r shellto lag behind the outer shell, so that 'thisinner shell,

as-viewed through the openings 5 of 'the outer shell, will have a different speed'of rotation from the outer shell, particularly during those periods painted" in segments of differing colors," which alternate segments 37, (seeFig. 9) being red in inner shell half 23 has its outer surface painted 39 (see Fig; illbeing'blue in color,--fo r example, and the three remaining. painted segments '40,

Theouter surface of the up'per outer. shell member 2 is illustrated as painted red in color, (see Figl8)-,'whereas the outer surface of the lower outer shell member 3 is illustrated as painted blue in color. Thus, during the rotation of the top, owing to the variation in colors of the different segments of the inner shell members, and to the fact that the inner shell will have a difierential in speed from that of the outer shell, particularly during periods of acceleration of the outer shell, the top will assume varying and pleasing colors, which, at any instant, may be any color of the spectrum, depending upon the relative angular positions of the inner and outer shells.

Due to the rotation of the inner shell and of the vane 35 contained therewithin during the operation of the top, air is drawn in through apertures 8 and 34 at the bottom of'the top past reeds 32 and up and out through the annular opening 24 in the inner shell and through openings '7 and 5 of the outer shell, thereby causing the top 1 to give off pleasing notes while the same is revolving. Owing to the presence of the vane 35, the capacity of the top for drawing air through the same is greatly increased, thereby increasing the music produced by the top in use.

It is to be understood that the colors of the various parts of the top shown in the figures of the drawings, are merely illustrative and these colors may be varied, as desired, to obtain differing color effects of the top while the same is spinning. It will be noted that the upper half of the top, while spinning, will be of one color at any instant, whereas the lower half of the top will be of another color at the same instant, when using the color combination disclosed, al-

-colorsif like colors are usedin the painting "the-upper and lower'halves of the top.

owing to the spherical shape of the top, the "'samejisrende'red extremely strong, because, as is "known; a spherehas thegreatest strength of though it is alsdapparent that J the upperwand lower halvesof the top may assumethe same of hence for the weightof material used in making the top, -the; same will have far greater strength than-"tops of the same thickness and material but of diiferent shape and consequentlythefitop of the present invention has been found to possess a far longer life than that possessed by ordinary tops of this type.

It will be apparent that if a top of fixed color is desired, i. "ela top which does not change colors during the spinning thereof, the inner shell may 'tb'e bmitted; Such a construction is illustrated "in Figffl cf the drawings. In this figure, thetop "43 is illustratd 'as having upper and lower shell halves 41 and 42' which are also of hollow semior other suitable washer 47 that is secured to a clutch plate 48, which, inturn, is fixed to the interior of the uppershell half 41.

tube 50 that is secured clutch plate 48.

"The lower portionf of guide tube 50 projects downwardlyand is secured within an aperture "provided in the lower shell half 42. .The'lower end of tube 50 preferably has a plug5l' therein upon which the top spins: A transversely extending circular plate 52 is secured within the 1 interior of the-lower shell half 42; and'icarries vibrating reeds 53. The lower portion of the lower shell half 42 is provided with apertures 54 through which air is adapted to pass upwardly past the reeds 53, thereby vibrating these reeds during therotation of the top. A vertical vane 55 is provided for increasing the speed of air flow through the top, this vane being mounted upon the tube 50. Apertures 56 are provided about the mid-height of the top for permitting the escape of air therefrom. Owing to the spherical shape of this top, the same has great strength in use and will last an exceedingly long time before being deformed by. wear or abuse.

As many changes could be made in the above construction and many apparently widely difierent embodiments of this invention could be made without departing from the scope thereof, as defined by the following claims, it is intended that all matter contained in the above description or shown in the accompanying drawings shall be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

What is claimed is:

1. In a top of the character described, an outer shell arranged to be rotated, mechanism for rotating said outer shell comprising a clutch housing in said shell, a one way clutch within said housing, a helical rod having a handle thereon, said helical rod extending into said outer shell and engaging said clutch for rotating the same to thereby effect the rotation of said outer shell when said handle is reciprocated, an inner shell of slightly lesser dimensions than said outer shell and contained within said outer shell, said inner shell being supported upon the inner surface of The helical rod 45' projects downwardly into a vertical guide at its upper end to the saidouter shell but being independently rotatable :with respect to said outer shell, said outer shell .having openings'in the wall thereof, whereby portions of said inner shell may be viewed from without, said inner and outer shells having their outer surfaces variously colored, whereby relative turning movement of said inner and outer shells, resulting from the spinning of said outer shell,

. causes the top to successively assume various color effects, the actuation of said rotating means hanjdle during the spinning of the top serving to con- -tinue such spinning as long as desired.

shaped. shell members, means rigidly interconnecting said upper and lower inner shell members, said inner shell being turnable within said outer shell, a turnable washer interposed between said inner and outer shell members for supporting the former upon the latter, said outershell members having openings in the wall thereof, whereby ,said inner shell members may be viewed from without, said inner and outer shell members having their outer surfaces covered with more than one color, whereby relative movement of said inner and outer shells, during the spinning of the top, causes the same to assume changing color efiects.

3. In a top of the character described, an outer shell, said shell having a clutch housing formed at its top and a pivotal boss provided at its bottom upon which said shell spins, a one way clutch provided in said clutch housing, a guide tube extending within said shell from said clutch to the bottom of said shell, a helical rod extending into 40 the top of said shell for operating said clutch, said helical rod'being provided with a handle at its upper end, said rod having its lower end projecting into said guide tube to be guided by the latter,

.an inner shell contained within said first named shell, said second shell having a bearing tube therewithin extending from the top of said shell to the bottom thereof, said bearing tube being turnably mounted on said guide tube, whereby said second shell is turnable with respect to said first shell, said first shell having openings in the wall thereof enabling saiclsecond shell to be seen from without.

4. In a top of the character described, an outer shell, said outer shell having a clutch housing formed at its top and a pivotal boss provided at its bottom upon which said shell spins, a one way clutch provided in said clutch housing, a guide tube extending within said shell from said clutch to the bottom of -said shell, a helical rod extendinginto the top of said shell for operating said clutch, said helical rod being provided with a handle at its upper end and having its lower end projecting into said guide tube to be guided by the said first shell, said first shell having openings in the wall thereof enabling said second shell to be seen from without, said first-and second shells having their outer. surfaces variously colored,

whereby relative turning movement of said shells in use, results in causing the top to change color.

FRITZ BUESCHEL. 

